Oleksandr Usyk vs the Greats at Heavyweight

[Denilson3.0]

Riddick Bowe

Usyk is the massive overachiever while Bowe was the massive underachiever.

So this would be great match up.

If Chisora and Briedis can give Usyk headaches with their styles, I have no doubt that Riddick Bowe would not have any problem bettering their efforts by some distance. Usyk hates taking a bodyshot, Bowe loves giving a bodyshot, Usyk hates taking a uppercut, Bowe loves giving a uppercut. This is an incredibly tall order for Usyk.

I do see Uysk winning a couple of rounds there and there but Bowe (1992) is just too complete for Usyk and would get the late TKO or UD. However, I do give the edge to Usyk from 1995-96 against Bowe from the Golota fights as Bowe was a shell of the fighter from those 1992 days

But Bowe 92 ? Would control the center of the ring with his jab and land vicious uppercuts on the inside.

This would be a difficult fight for Usyk as Bowe is not just a big man but a big man with skills who knows what to do especially with the jab, uppercut, combinations and inside. Bowe beats Usyk, just like he beat Holyfield. Holyfield is every bit as skilled as Usyk, and hits harder and Bowe walked through him, I'd bet he would do the same with Usyk who hits like a girl (actually that's disrespectful and sexist let's just say Usyk is not a big enough puncher to hurt most big heavyweights)

[Master]

Foreman was slow in the clips you showed. He had power but if you can not land it does not matter. George was over reliant on that power and later developed the jab and pacing himself when he came out of retirement.

Usyk has himself said he would love to have fought prime Foreman because it would give him a challenge. Usyk is a wizard in the ring.

Bowe was superb when he fought Holyfield in their first fight. He knew how to use his reach and height and agree with you that would have been too difficult to Ukrainian.

[Mark TKO]

This could be your best ever thread Master. Easy mind as your others have all been shite.

Please give us more of these prediction threads for how fighter x would do against a series of greats.

Thanks

[Denilson3.0]

Foreman was slow in the clips you showed. He had power but if you can not land it does not matter. George was over reliant on that power and later developed the jab and pacing himself when he came out of retirement.

Usyk has himself said he would love to have fought prime Foreman because it would give him a challenge. Usyk is a wizard in the ring.

Bowe was superb when he fought Holyfield in their first fight. He knew how to use his reach and height and agree with you that would have been too difficult to Ukrainian.

You could be right. I could be wrong. Usyk may have beaten Foreman. I don't totally rule that out. But I don't see it at all.

[Alpha]

I think Frazier and Tyson would be the most difficult fights for Usyk of those fighters listed by Master.

[Spicoli]

Great thread topic and insights. Off the top I don't see Usyk beating Ali or Tyson but also see him very live with Foreman, just not sure he makes the bell. Mentally I think he can have a big advantage with young Foreman and with Usyk I think one of his major and maxed assets is his mental makeup and pure calculating execution of a game plan. The man has an unshakable drive and confidence off the charts. But can also see Holyfield giving him absolute hell in forced exchanges. I'm just not convinced Usyk stands in with the consistent combination punching and counters of Holyfield. Who himself imo has never gotten full credit for underrated pop often in combo capped with a quick left hook that has dented some of the very best big men and chins he faced. Usyk by no fault of his own has had a few things working against him overall and rightly receives some skeptics when the "all-time great" is immediately thrown out. Btw "great" imo is one of the most overused terms going today. The name and even language barrier let's just be honest. The tagline that has also sat over so many other cruisers coming up, "blown up heavy" etc. He's not a puncher and in the wider view of boxing fans outside of harder core fans he has sat in some anonymity of sorts. But the mere fact he's arrived in the conversation among the elite heavies in multiple eras is a testament to his measure. The man is special and has very much staked his claim as his eras best.